In the next year, Bitcoin will start its transformation from a mere currency into an entire open-source, decentralized exchange for everything from futures contracts to car rentals. By David Z. Morris FORTUNE -- In 2013, bitcoin's valuation didn't just skyrocket, but its infrastructur...

One reason the virtual currency has been soaring could be that figuring out how to profit from its fall is tough. FORTUNE -- Can you bet on the likely eventual bitcoin crash? You bet. But it's an expensive trade. And even if you're right, you won't walk away with much, if anything. Th...

Xapo secures $20 million from Silicon Valley and Wall Street investors. FORTUNE -- Somewhere in the world sits a large vault, manned by armed guards and further protected by biometrics. But there is no gold, cash or jewels inside. Instead, it's just a computer that has never been conn...

Ripple Labs is building a fast, global money transfer and exchange infrastructure -- and taking a few pages from the book of bitcoin. By David Z. Morris FORTUNE -- On March 18th , the National Automated Clearing House Association declared that it was leading the way towards same-day t...

Bitcoin has spawned numerous spinoffs and imitators. Why the sudden proliferation of "altcoins" – and what are the chances that any of them matter? By David Z. Morris, contributor FORTUNE -- Bitcoin's 2013 remains impressive, even after the digital currency has taken a serious tumble ...

Both assets attract a certain type of investor, but which will protect you against the worst? FORTUNE -- Call it a battle of the doomsayers. In some corners of the Internet -- where topics such as the collapse of the global monetary system or runaway inflation are the stuff of common,...

Not surprisingly, some in Silicon Valley are investing their money into code. FORTUNE -- Tim Chang has a very busy full-time job as a partner with venture capital firm Mayfield, where he has led investments in such companies as Lyft, Lumosity and Playdom. But he also has a business ve...

If venture capitalists want their Bitcoin startups to succeed, they may need to make one other investment. FORTUNE -- Venture capitalists have invested around $100 million into Bitcoin-related startups, believing that the cryptocurrency will eventually take a major bite out of the glo...